MOSCOW. Aug 3 (Interfax) - Representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspected the rooftops of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP in the city of Energodar) for the first time on Thursday to be assured that there are no explosives there, advisor to the head of Rosenergoatom Renat Karchaa told Interfax.
"We took them to the rooftops of units 3 and 4 today, about which [Ukrainian President] Vladimir Zelensky has made loud statements. Naturally, there are no traces of explosives there," Karchaa said.
The decision on admitting IAEA inspectors to the rooftops took longer than previously expected exclusively because of security risks in the face of possible provocations by Ukraine, Karchaa said.
"The possibility of an attempt to seize the plant by force persists, and Ukraine is threatening us with that. Moreover, we've repeatedly recorded not just preparations, but a high level of the Kiev regime's preparedness to make such attempts, including by sending air assault groups," Karchaa said.
"The very assumption that mines could be planted on the power units' rooftops is absurd," as this makes no sense due to the strength of their walls, to say the least, Karchaa said. Russia is continuing to physically guard the plant due to the high risk of possible attacks, he said.
Speaking on TV on July 4, Karchaa said he had information indicating that Ukraine might attempt to attack the ZNPP with munitions containing radioactive waste in the early hours of July 5. Following that, Ukrainian President Zelensky circulated a statement claiming that Russian troops planted objects "looking like explosives" on the rooftops of several reactor units.
Karchaa dismissed the allegation.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said IAEA inspectors did not uncover any evidence that mines might have been planted at the ZNPP but asked for additional access to the plant's facilities, including its rooftops.
The Zaporozhye NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, operates six VVER-1000 power units. The plant has not produced electricity since September 11, 2022. Two of its power units are undergoing maintenance, three are in a cold shutdown, and one in a hot shutdown to provide for the Zaporozhye NPP's own needs.
The NPP's facilities have been transferred to Russian ownership, and the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant Federal State Unitary Enterprise was established. The operator is the Operating Organization of the Zaporozhye NPP, which was established by Rosenergoatom, part of Rosatom state corporation.
Several IAEA experts have been deployed at the NPP on a rotating basis since September 1, 2022. The last rotation was conducted on August 3.